Bird's Opening
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moves | 1.f4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECO | A02–A03 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Named after | Henry Bird | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Synonym(s) | Dutch Attack | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bird's Opening (or the Dutch Attack) is a chess opening characterised by the move:
- 1. f4
Named after 19th century English player Henry Bird, Bird's opening is a standard flank opening. White's strategic ideas involve control of the e5-square, offering good attacking chances at the expense of slightly weakening their own kingside. Black may challenge White's plan to control e5 immediately by playing From's Gambit (1...e5); however, the From Gambit is notoriously double-edged and should only be played after significant study.
The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings assigns two codes for Bird's Opening: A02 (1.f4) and A03 (1.f4 d5).